Concept Nine and the Principle of Flexibility
Concept Nine states: “Good personal leadership at all service levels is a necessity. In the field of world service the Board of Trustees assumes the primary leadership.” My first thought is, “What does this have to do with
Reaching Out to Help Children of Alcoholics
It was a cold, dark, February night when I came to my first Al‑Anon meeting. I was young in years (only a couple years too late for Alateen), but I felt ancient, worn-out, and totally lost in spirit.
Putting the Focus on Myself
Growing up, my focus was always on my raging, alcoholic father, and what I could do to stay out of harm’s way. He made it clear to me that I was unlovable and worthless. At such a young
I Have an Amazing Life
I had recently separated from my husband. He had a drinking problem that I was trying to ignore. A couple of my close friends knew some of what was happening at my house. A few months before my
My Sigh of Relief
In the 20 years of living with active alcoholism, my view of people and situations in my life had become severely distorted. I was plagued by guilt because I knew life was a gift to be celebrated, but
Where Do Al-Anon Slogans Come From?
Al‑Anon's slogans have developed through the years and have grown along with the fellowship. In the development of How Al‑Anon Works for Families & Friends of Alcoholics (B-32), a discussion regarding slogans resulted in concurrence that they evolve
The Group Inventory—“How Important Is It?”
When I think of the word “inventory,” the image of an old-time general store comes to mind, complete with a shopkeeper using a paper list and pencil. The shopkeeper assesses the inventory on the shelves—a good quantity of cleaning
It’s Elemental
There had not been an active alcoholic in my life for over 35 years when an event happened involving loss and betrayal that had nothing to do with alcohol. This event caused all of my past decisions, losses,
My Circle of Friends and Family
As the holidays near, I am reminded that my home and life were never of the holiday-greeting-card-TV-movie variety. While I was growing up, alcoholism always lingered, waiting to rear its head as family and friends gathered around tables
Why I Keep Coming Back
I’ve been a grateful member of Al‑Anon since February 14, 2018. For the previous five and a half years, I was a bitter, angry, and resentful member. I couldn’t bring myself to accept that alcoholism is a disease.
Your Year-End Opportunity for Giving
As a non-member working at the World Service Office (WSO), I have first-hand experience of how the spiritual principles of abundance and gratitude are practiced on a daily basis through the work performed at the WSO. I’ve especially
I’m Grateful for the Consistency and Unity Found in Al-Anon
Growing up in the family disease of alcoholism taught me not to make any plans, not to trust, not to take risks, and not to rock the boat. Having very little I could truly count on, I never